Jack E. Peterson

Absorption and Elimination of Carbon Monoxide by Inactive Young Men

Human volunteers were exposed to carbon monoxide at concentrations of < 1, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 ppm for periods of one-half to 24 hours. Blood samples for carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) were obtained during the exposures and for up to 23 hours into the postexposure periods. Postexposure treatment with oxygen at 1.0 and 3.0 atmospheres was included. Several model equations were tested against the absorption and excretion data; one theoretical equation accurately predicted COHb levels resulting from continuous and discontinuous exposures to unvarying concentrations and from continuous exposure to a steadily rising concentration.

Experimental Human Exposure to Carbon Monoxide

Human volunteers were exposed to carbon monoxide at concentrations of < 1, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 ppm for periods of one-half to 24 hours. No untoward effects were observed in sedentary males exposed to 100 ppm for eight hours. Exposures producing carboxyhemoglobin saturations greater than 15% to 20% resulted in delayed headaches, changes in the visual evoked response, and impairment of manual coordination.

Experimental Human Exposure to High Concentrations of Carbon Monoxide

Six healthy male human volunteers were exposed to seven high carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations ranging from 1,000 ppm for ten minutes to 35,600 ppm for 45 seconds. Carbon monoxide was rapidly absorbed and the increase in percent carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation in venous blood per liter of CO mixture inhaled could be accurately predicted by the equation, log (Δ% carboxyhemoglobsn/liter) = 1.036 log (ppm CO inhaled) -4.4793. The abrupt increase in carboxyhemoglobin concentration of 11.6% and 9.1% saturation in two subjects produced the immediate onset of mild frontal headache. The subject exposed to 35,600 ppm demonstrated slight sagging of the ST-segsnent of lead II. This occurred 20 seconds after the exposure had started and persisted for ten minutes after exposure. Neither the spontaneous nor the evoked electrical activity of the brain exhibited significant changes which could be attributed to CO exposure over the range studied.

Effect of carbon monoxide on time perception

Twenty-seven healthy, adult, male and female volunteers were exposed to carbon monoxide at concentrations of < 2, 50, 100, 200, and, 500 ppm for periods up to five hours for the purpose of determining the effect of this gas on time perception. These exposures, which resulted in a range of carboxyhemoglobin saturations up to 20%, produced no impairment in the ability of the subjects to perform the Beard-Wertheim time discrimination test, to estimate 10- or 30-second intervals, or to perform the Marquette time estimation test.

Postexposure Relationship of Carbon Monoxide in Blood and Expired Air

The postexposure relationship between venous blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation and the concentration of carbon monoxide in breath is described by a quadratic equation derived from data obtained from 25 experimental human exposures to CO. Alveolar breath analysis can be used to accurately estimate the postexposure COHb saturation in adult white males.

Modeling the uptake, metabolism and excretion of dichloromethane by man

Data were obtained from the exposure of eleven men to dichloromethane concentrations of 50, 100, 250, and 500 ppm, 1,3 or 7.5 hours per day, for up to five successive days and from the exposure of nine women to 250 ppm on a similar schedule. Breath concentrations of the solvent following exposure were related mathematically to exposure parameters as were blood concentrations of the metabolite, carbon monoxide (as carboxyhemoglobin percentage saturation elevations). The resulting emprical equations can be used to predict the consequences of many industrial and non-industrial exposure situations.

Limitations of ambient air quality standards in evaluating indoor environments.

Analysis of the kinds of data used for the derivation of ambient air quality standards (AAQSs) for carbon monoxide and ozone shows that these values are based on the toxicology of the materials and thus are suitable for evaluating potential health effects of indoor environments, especially on the very young, the aged, and the infirm. A similar analysis shows that the AAQSs for suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are strictly empirical and that they should not be used for any but their first, intended purpose. The AAQSs for non-methane hydrocarbons are based on photochemical smog production, not injury of any kind, and have no utility for indoor environment evaluation.

The Philosophy of Occupational Safety and Health Regulation

(1988). The Philosophy of Occupational Safety and Health Regulation. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 137-142.

Calculation of vapor penetration in charcoal sampling tubes

Assuming that the back section of a charcoal air sampling tube has half the retentivity of the front, an equation was derived that estimates conservatively the loss when some contaminant is found in the back section.

Phosphorus vapor exposure in phosphorus using plants.

Operator exposure to phosphorus in five areas in the five FMC using plants was documented primarily with area samplers. However, where significant levels of phosphorus vapors were found, personal sampling was also performed. Eight-hour time-weighted-average phosphorus exposure levels were estimated for operators in the phosphorus burning plants from the area measurements. Maintenance worker exposure was also studied. No worker was exposed to phosphorus concentrations above the current 0.1 mg/M3 threshold limit value (TLV).